Graphical Approach to College Algebra and Trigonometry - Hardcover

Hornsby, John; Lial, Margaret L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 032102172X ISBN 13: 9780321021724

Publisher: Pearson, 1998

Synopsis

• This book, intended for a college algebra and trigonomety course, is the culmination of many years of teaching experience with the graphing calculator. In it, the authors treat the standard topics of college algebra and trigonometry by solving analytically, confirming graphically, and motivating through applications.
• Throughout the first five chapters, the authors present the various classes of functions studied in a standard college algebra and trigonometry text. Chapter One introduces functions and relations, using the linear function as the basis for the presentation. In this chapter, the authors introduce the following approach which is used throughout the next four chapters: after introducing a class of functions, the nature of its graph is examined, then the analytic solution of equations based on that function is discussed. Students are then shown how to provide graphical support for solutions using a graphing calculator. Having established these two methods of solving equations, the authors move on to the analytic methods of solving the associated inequalities. Students then learn how the analytic solutions of these inequalities can also be supported graphically. Finally, once the student has a feel for the particular class of function under consideration, the authors use analytic and graphical methods to solve interesting applications involving that function.
• By consistently using this approach with all the different classes of functions, students become aware that the authors are always following the same general procedure, and just applying that procedure to a new kind of function. Throughout the text, the authors emphasize the power of technology but provide numerous warnings on its limitations: the authors stress that it is only through the understanding of mathematical concepts that students can fully appreciate the power of graphing calculators and use technology appropriately.

About this title

About the Author

John Hornsby- When John Hornsby enrolled as an undergraduate at Louisiana State University, he was uncertain whether he wanted to study mathematics, education, or journalism. His ultimate decision was to become a teacher, but after twenty-five years of teaching at the high school and university levels and ten years of writing mathematics textbooks, both of his goals have been realized. His love for teaching and for mathematics is evident in his passion for working with students and fellow teachers as well. His specific professional interests are recreational mathematics, mathematics history, and incorporating graphing calculators into the curriculum.

John's personal life is busy as he devotes time to his family (wife Gwen, and sons Chris, Jack, and Josh). He has been a rabid baseball fan all of his life. John's other hobbies include numismatics (the study of coins) and record collecting. He loves the music of the 1960s and has an extensive collection of the recorded works of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Marge Lial was always interested in math; it was her favorite subject in the first grade! Marge's intense desire to educate both her students and herself has inspired the writing of numerous best-selling textbooks. Marge, who received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from California State University at Sacramento, is now affiliated with American River College.

Marge is an avid reader and traveler. Her travel experiences often find their way into her books as applications, exercise sets, and feature sets. She is particularly interested in archeology. Trips to various digs and ruin sites have produced some fascinating problems for her textbooks involving such topics as the building of Mayan pyramids and the acoustics of ancient ball courts in the Yucatan.

Gary Rockswold- Dr. Gary Rockswold has been teaching mathematics for 25 years at all levels from seventh grade to graduate school, including junior high and high school students, talented youth, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students, and adult education classes. He is currently employed at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he is a full professor of mathematics and the chair of the mathematics department. He graduated with majors in mathematics and physics from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his Ph.D. in applied mathematics from Iowa State University. He has an interdisciplinary background and has also taught physical science, astronomy, and computer science.

Dr. Rockswold has been writing for mathematics textbooks for over ten years. Currently he is an author for Addison Wesley, writing textbooks that integrate modeling, visualization, applications, and the graphing calculator into the curriculum.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 032102172X
• ISBN 13: 9780321021724
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 784